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Runaway Kayaker from Wisconsin Lake Found Alive in Europe

2024-12-05

Ryan Borgwardt, a 44-year-old woodworking company owner from Watertown, Wisconsin, along with his wife Emily, a first-grade teacher, and their three teenaged children, Jeremiah, Levi, and Norah, had a routine of enjoying summer outdoors. They swam in their backyard pool, had barbecues together, and kayaked in the state's pristine lakes. But on August 11, Ryan's life took a shocking turn. He left home to go kayaking in Green Lake and texted Emily that he was headed back to shore at 10:45 p.m. That was the last time she heard from him. The next morning, worried, Emily called 911 to report her husband missing. Green Lake County Sheriff's deputies quickly located Ryan's vehicle and trailer near Dodge Memorial Park. They also found his capsized kayak in a 220-feet deep part of the lake, along with his life jacket and tackle box containing his keys and wallet.

Initial Search and Presumed Death

A massive search and rescue operation failed to locate Ryan, and he was presumed dead, leaving his family grieving. Emily wrote a heartfelt post on social media, expressing her faith that Ryan was with his Savior in heaven. Authorities continued to search for Ryan's remains until a shocking twist emerged.

Unforeseen Discovery

On November 8, Green Lake County Sheriff Mike Podoll announced at a press conference that Ryan was alive. It was revealed that on August 13, Canadian law enforcement had checked Ryan's passport, something the sheriff's team didn't expect. It was discovered that Ryan had taken photos of his passport, changed his email, moved money to a foreign bank, and was communicating with a woman from Uzbekistan as far back as January. He had taken out a $375,000 insurance policy and bought airline gift cards.

How the Disappearance Unfolded

Podoll explained that Ryan paddled his kayak and a child-sized inflatable boat out into the lake and overturned the kayak. He then paddled the inflatable boat to shore, got on his e-bike, and rode through the night to Madison. From there, he boarded a bus to Detroit and then to the Canadian border. He continued on the bus to an airport and got on a plane.

Reasons for Disappearance

When asked about the reasons for his disappearance, the sheriff simply said, "He just had personal matters going on, and he felt this was the right thing to do."

Legal Implications

If Ryan returns to the US, he could face criminal charges and pay restitution of at least $40,000. Sheriff Podoll admires Emily's grace and strength throughout this bizarre ordeal. He noted that she always responded whenever they called and gave everything she could. The entire family has shown great support for each other and continues to grow.